California Pizza Kitchen Names New President, CEO

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California Pizza Kitchen Inc. said Thursday that it has named former Texas Roadhouse CEO G.J. Hart as its president, CEO and executive chairman.

California Pizza Kitchen Inc. said Thursday that it has named former Texas Roadhouse CEO G.J. Hart as its president, CEO and executive chairman.

Hart is replacing CPK's co-founders Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax. Private equity firm Golden Gate Capital completed its $470 million acquisition of California Pizza Kitchen last month. Hart had been with Texas Roadhouse for 10 years. He was also a member of the company's board.

To replace Hart, Texas Roadhouse has named W. Kent Taylor to take on the role of CEO. He'd been in that role between 2000 and 2004.

Taylor was the company's president from its founding in 1993 to when he took the CEO role the first time in May 2000. Taylor will remain chairman.